More than 500 Students Explore Triumph and Tragedy in History at NHDI State Contest

INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces 550 students from schools across the state took part in the 2019 National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) state contest, Saturday, April 13, at the University of Indianapolis.

Through the 2019 theme of “Triumph and Tragedy in History,” students explored the impact of historic events, such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the development of the polio vaccine, and shed light on local and national figures, such as Rhoda Coffin, Indiana’s women’s prison reformer, and Ernie Pyle, America’s eyewitness to WWII.

All first- and second-place state finishers in each junior and senior category are now eligible to compete in the National Contest for National History Day, June 9 through 13, at the University of Maryland’s campus in College Park, Maryland. At least 3,000 students are expected to compete from across the country and from international schools around the world.

The National Contest is the final stage in a series of contests at state and regional levels. Students in grades four through 12 began this year’s National History Day journey by exploring a historical subject and using their research to create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website.

Students qualified to state by taking part in regional contests where volunteer judges worked in teams to evaluate projects and rank winners. All regional finalists advanced to the state contest, where students also had the chance to win special prizes for Indiana history topics.

The 2019 NHDI season is presented by the Indiana National Guard, The Richard W. and Irene Rooker Family Foundation, TCU Foundation and the Vigran Family Foundation. For more information, visit www.indianahistory.org/historyday or call (317) 232-1882.